‘Intimidating’ Tahuhu steps up on big stage
Clearly the big stage – on home soil at least – agrees with the White Ferns.
Inspired by two of their gamebreakers, Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu, New Zealand’s women cricketers will spring onto a sold-out Eden Park today 1-0 up in the Twenty20 series against India, who’d made them look second-rate in the first two one-day internationals.
The White Ferns’ performances at the last two big world tournaments – the World Cup in England in 2017 and last year’s World T20 in the Caribbean – were disappointing and raised concerns over their depth and big-game temperament.
But there’s no place like home, and they lifted in Wellington to secure a 23-run win on Wednesday evening before the biggest crowd some had ever played in front of. Officials marked it at close to 8000 late at a chilly Westpac Stadium, which built to a final figure of 15,033 after the Black Caps’ 80-run win over India.
‘‘My job is to go out there and bowl fast and intimidate a little bit and keep the energy up around the group,’’ said Tahuhu, who did exactly that with three wickets in 10 balls to spark a staggering India collapse of 9-34. She ended with figures of 3-20.
‘‘We’re on the front foot and really it’s our series to win. We’ve got to really keep working hard and look at our plans moving into the next game. To get a win like that is pretty special and the girls are buzzing.’’
Tahuhu, Devine, Suzie Bates and captain Amy Satterthwaite are back from Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League and it showed.
Devine (62 off 48 balls) set the platform for a par total of 159-4, then it was over to Tahuhu to lead the way with the ball.
Recognised as among the quickest in women’s cricket, Tahuhu was thrown the ball by captain Amy Satterthwaite to make something happen, after India fired early.
Class act Smriti Mandhana was flying on 58 off 34 balls and India were 102-1 in the 12th over.
‘‘We weren’t hitting our lengths that we needed to. Obviously, Mandhana is really good on the short ball so we talked about getting it fuller — when we broke that partnership we really jumped in,’’ Tahuhu said.
Mandhana was snaffled by a good outfield catch by Hannah Rowe off Amelia Kerr’s legspin. Then Tahuhu did her thing and let the batters know she was there.
‘‘When you get a little bit pumped up that happens, especially as a pace bowler it’s your job to get in a few people’s faces.’’
Katey Martin added energy behind the stumps and blasted two sixes off the last over in an unbeaten 27 off 14.
And there were two handy debutants: opener Katie Gurrey who was unorthodox, but can give the ball a clout, and seamer Rosemary Mair, who snared a late wicket.
India again omitted their ODI skipper, the prolific Mithali Raj.